Continued Heart Pain after By-Pass

[cdr1953]

I am a 54 year old male who had triple by-pass November of 07.  I have continued pain in my sternum, cannot cough, cannot lie on my side, etc.  I did have an infection that was successfully treated with antibiotics and steriods under the incision area (incision area looks great) and felt much better during and after treatment but now I am in constant pain again.  My cardiologist and surgeon have released me to go back to work (with limitations), but I cannot because of the pain.  I need to work.  I know some patients have continued pain for up to 2 years after by-pass, but I have to work, I am in bankruptcy due to not being able to work after my heart attack almost 2 years ago.  It just doesn't feel right.  Anti-inflammatories help the pain the most, but do not work long and upset my stomach.  Is there something I could have missed and why do my doctors seem so disconcerned?

[rockcityaudiouk]

Dr Miller,you forgot to mention the radiation exposure risk from the 3D CAT scan.
(angiography)typically like 1000 X-rays!  with the long-term risk of (cancer)this is not fully understood.Cat scan makers are now trying to lower the exposure rate.

[Archibald S Miller III, MD,FACS]

I am Dr. Arch Miller and am on the reconstructive surgery forum. I have seen many patients with this problem and they have been successfully treated  with a rigid fixation device . It entails surgically placing a titanium clamp around the sternum to stabilize it. Dr. Scott Levin of Duke University, and Dr. James Spann of Tulsa and myself are all well familiar with this device. We can help you or we can get you a referral. You will need a 3D CT scan to see how the sternum and wires look. I hope this helps you, respectfully,

                       arch s miller ms md facs

[Margie123]

Just wondering how you are feeling since you posted this in April? My husband had bypass surgery 6 weeks ago, and is still having pain around and down his incision. His surgeon and cardiologist aren't concerned at all. He's really in pain and they refuse to give him anymore pain medication. Other than the pain, he is doing great...walking, etc.

[borg42]

I've just posted to ask the same thing. Having unrelenting and incessant pain slightly to the left of my sternum, but under the ribs since my heart attacks in mid-Jan. Had a 100% blockage of the LAD, partial blockages in the LCA and RCA and 3 stents.

At the hospital they said it was pericarditis and now they say I'm "over-sensitized" to every little thing going on in my chest. Doesn't make sense to me, because the pain is a rod-like pain about 4" long and not quite parallel to the sternum. Very specific and not fleeting.

I'm finding the same thing - my cardio's are being very dismissive. You've obviously had something far more serious and I might suggest asking one of the doctors on this forum.